Bayern boss Dreesen: Squad bottleneck as an opportunity for talent
Bayern boss Jan-Christian Dreesen sees the current Munich squad as an opportunity for talent. "We have a special situation in defense at the moment that was not foreseeable. Of course, the squad reaches certain limits in the event of injuries. But such situations are made for young talents," said Dreesen in an interview with "Münchner Merkur/tz" (Saturday).
"Let's remember Alphonso Davies, who replaced David Alaba on the left! Let's remember Jamal Musiala, who came in when Philippe Coutinho, Thiago and Serge Gnabry were injured! Now Frans Krätzig and Aleksandar Pavlovic are getting their chances, and these are also the stories we want to write as a club," said the 56-year-old, who succeeded Oliver Kahn at the end of May.
Dreesen is calling for special efforts in view of the well-funded international competition. "If we earn comparatively little TV money, then we have to find new ways. One option would be to become a transfer machine, but that is not our philosophy. For us, the transfer business is a means to an end in order to improve the team," said Dreesen.
"It's not our primary way of earning money. Our field is therefore small. We have to be active, find partners and think about media marketing potential ourselves. Otherwise we will lose touch," explained the long-standing Munich CFO.
Dreesen also commented on the bold statements in the fan curves. "We have also become the projection screen for socio-political discourse. Do I want that or do I always think it's good? No. But do we have to accept that, with so many millions of spectators, things outside of soccer play a role for people? Absolutely - and the active fan scene plays a major role in this," he said.
"We don't always have to like it, but this interaction and critical dialog is good for us. They ensure that we don't become complacent and comfortable. It's not about cuddling up, after all, we don't have to like every banner," said Dreesen.
The upcoming Bundesliga match against 1st FC Heidenheim could provide an opportunity for FC Bayern Munich's young talents, such as Frans Krätzig and Aleksandar Pavlovic, to shine, as the senior squad is currently facing challenges in defense. Despite the well-funded international competition, Bayern's transfer strategy focuses on improving the team rather than relying on transfers as a primary source of income.
Source: www.dpa.com
